Chromatic pitch-pipe



(No Model.)

0. H. GONGDON. CHROMATIC PITCH PIPE.

No. 439,115. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. CONGDON, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

CHROMATIC PITCH-PIPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,115, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed February 18, 1890. Serial No. 340,874. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. CONGDON, of St. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesotzuhave invented certain Improvements in Chromatic Pitch-Pipes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pitch-pipes or devices for sounding the various tones of the chromatic scale, whereby any desired musical key may be sounded, and thus furnish a very convenient and necessary instrument f or use in the tuning of various musical instruments, especially stringed instrument-s, and in the instruction of classes in vocal music.

My invention consists in a grooved bed-plate or base, preferably of wood, a metallic plate secured upon the same and having secured to it series of reeds arranged preferably in pairs, one member of each pair being on one side of the plate and the other on the other side, the plate being so secured that each pair of reeds is above one of the grooves of the base. A suitable cover is then fitted over the plate and its base, having openings on the sides leading, respectively, to the grooves in the base, so that by applying the mouth to one of 'the openings of the cover one member of the pair of reeds in the connected groove is sounded by the expiring of the breath and the other member by the inspiring of the breath through the one opening.

My invention further consists in the construction and combination hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of the grooved bed-plate or base. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same on line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the reed-carrying plate; Fig. 4, a cross-section of the same on line Y Y of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the under side of the top or lid. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the instrument on the line represented by Z Z of Fig. 3, and Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the top or lid.

In the drawings, 2 represents the wooden bed-plate or base, preferably rectangular in form, having a series of transverse grooves 3 and short grooves or notches 4 opening into the groove adjacent to either end of the block.

5 represents a rectangular metallic sheet, of the same size as the base 2, adapted to be secured upon the base by screws passed through the openings 6 in the corners. Secured transversely upon this plate are two series of reeds 7 and 8, one series being arranged upon the top and the other upon the under side of the plate in such position that each reed of a series is supported over one of the grooves of the base, there thus being a pair of reeds for each groove, one of one series and the other of the other. The reeds are secured to the plate by means of rivets 9 in the ordinary manner, and openings or vents 10 are arranged in the plate underneath the tongues of the reeds. The reeds are formed or attuned to sound severally the musical notes of the chromatic scale, a complete instrument for the purpose thus consisting of twelve reeds; but for practical purposes an instrument fitted with ten reeds is all that is necessary, the two notes of the scale less frequently used not be ing represented.

Arranged over the plate and the base is a top or cover 11, formed with depending edges 12 to fit closely upon the sides of the base and thus close the openings formed by the grooves.

In the depending edges of the cover are cut notches 13, so placed as to open,respectively, into one of the grooves 3 or 4*. These notches are preferably arranged on the four sides of the top, so that only one or two notches are upon any one side. A common opening or vent 14 is arranged centrally through the top of the cover. It will thus be seen that in use any desired note or key may be sounded by placing the opening 13, communicating with the groove in which is arranged the reed of that key, to the mouth and either expiring or inspiring the breath through the same, according as to whether the desired reed is upon the upper or under side of the plate, the air passing through the groove and the opening 10 in the plate causing the tongue of the reed to vibrate, the vent 14: serving as an inlet or an outlet, as the case may be, and thus preventing the sounding of any other reed.

I claim 1. A pitch-pipe comprising, in combination, a grooved base, a plate secured upon said base and having reed-openings therethrough, series of reeds arranged upon said plate and above said grooves, respectively, and an inclosing-cover having notches or openings on the several sides thereof connecting, respectively, with the grooves of the base and a'vent through the top of said cover, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of the base 2, having grooves 3 and 4, the plate 5, secured thereon and having the reed-openings 10, arranged in pairs, respectively, over said grooves 3, the series of reeds 7, arranged upon one side of said plate,

and the series of reeds 8 upon the other side of the plate and over said reed-openings, and.

the cover 11', fitting over and inclosing the I5 said plate and base and fitted with the common vent 14 and with thenotches 13, openin g, respectively, into the grooves 3 and 4, sub- 2 stantia-lly as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 20 my hand this 5th day of February, 1890.

CHARLES H. CONGDON.

In presence of-- T. D. .MERWIN, A. MAE WELCH. 

